‖ zoœcium Zool.
(zəʊˈiːʃ(ɪ)əm)
Pl. -ia.
[mod.L., f. Gr. ζῷον animal + οἶκος house.]
The thickened and hardened part of the cuticle of each zooid or polyp of a colony of Polyzoa, forming a cell or sheath in which it is lodged. Hence zoœcial (zəʊˈiːʃ(ɪ)əl) a., pertaining to or forming a zoœcium.
| 1880 Pascoe Zool. Class. 297 Zoœcium, a cell in which a polypide of the Polyzoa is lodged. 1881 Jrnl. Microsc. Sci. Jan. 2 The avicularia are placed in the outer border of the Zoœcia. 1884 Athenæum 29 Mar. 414 The zooecial tube. |